MATSEC Examinations Board

The SEC Examinations

Introduction - Agenda• Process of communicating results: by SMS and by post

• Special features of this year’s session of examinations

• Basic Statistics – The Main and First 2018 Session in numbers

• Examination Access Arrangements and Special Consideration

• Conduct During Examinations

• Revision of Papers and the September Session

• Acknowledgement of the contribution of the Schools, Examiners, ADSC, Examinations Department, and the MATSEC Support Unit

Communicating Results• 8950 candidates sat for MATSEC Examinations in Main/First 2018

session consisting of: – 3805 candidates who sat at Matriculation Level (Advanced &

Intermediate) – including 43.5% of the 18-year-old cohort– 5145 candidates who sat at Secondary Education Certificate

(SEC) level – including 90.3% of the 16-year-old cohort [boys 87.4% girls 93.5%]

• 8846 candidates (98.8%) will receive their results by SMS today

• Result slips are being posted to all candidates today. They will receive them by tomorrow and in the following days.

Special Features of the First/Main 2018 Session

• Two new subjects– AM Theatre and Performance– SEC Ethics

• Verdana Font in all examinations scripts• Coloured paper at SEC Level• One common listening comprehension paper and audio recording for all

SEC candidates in foreign language examinations. • Examination fees were reduced by 50% and will be completely free next

year.• Increase in candidates sitting for vocational subjects from 92 in 2017 to

543 in 2018.

Basic Statistics – SEC Highlights• Ages 15 years – 82 years• Ages >16 years: 1702 candidates• Detailed results in all subjects are available in the hard copy. • Results in the Core Subjects

SUBJECT

GRADES 1 TO 5

MQF/EQF LEVEL 3

GRADES 1 TO 7

MQF/EQF LEVEL 2 & 3

GRADES 1 TO 5

MQF/EQF LEVEL 3

GRADES 1 TO 7

MQF/EQF LEVEL 2 & 3

  2018 2017ENGLISH LANGUAGE

71.4 82.8 69.9 82.4

MALTESE 65.6 76.8 68.0 75.9MATHEMATICS 57.5 77.8 54.5 75.6PHYSICS 67.1 79.2 67.2 79.8

Basic Statistics – Grades 1-7Pass Rate Subjects

90-100% European Studies, German, Greek, Russian

80-89%Chemistry, Computing, English Language, English Literature, French, Graphical Communication, Home Economics, Italian, Spanish

70-79%Arabic, Art, Biology, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Maltese, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Religious Knowledge

60-69%Accounting, Business Studies, Commerce, Design and Technology, History, Music, Social Studies, Textiles and Design

Candidates who satisfy entry requirement for Form VI

Cohort Males Females Total

2002 794 876 1670

2001 6 5 11

Basic Statistics – Matriculation Level• Ages 16 to 73 years: 3805 candidates sat for one or more subjects

at Matriculation level• Ages <18 years: 546 candidates registered for 842 exams• 776 sat for full Matriculation Certificate [2 AM + 3 IM level and SoK]• 1175 candidates awarded the Matriculation Certificate in May 2018

MC awarded 2018 2017

All candidates 1175 1399

18 year old cohort 972 1115

Basic Statistics – Advanced Level

Full details of individual subject results are available in the hard copy.

Percentage of 2018 first session candidates attaining Grades A to C in subjects at AM level

>90% RUSSIAN>80% ARABIC, MUSIC>70% GERMAN>60% GEOGRAPHY, THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE>50% BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, COMPUTING, ECONOMICS, GRAPHICAL COMMUNICATION

HISTORY, HOME ECON. & HUMAN ECOLOGY, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MALTESE, PURE MATHS, SOCIOLOGY, SPANISH

>40% ACCOUNTING, ART, ENGLISH, FRENCH, ITALIAN, MARKETING, PHYSICS, RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE

>30% PHILOSOPHY<30% APPLIED MATHS

Basic Statistics – Intermediate Level

Full details of individual subject results are available in the hard copy.

Percentage of 2018 first session candidates attaining Grades A to C in subjects at IM level

>90% MUSIC,

>80%

>70% GERMAN, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,

>60% HOME ECON. & HUMAN ECOLOGY,

>50% ARABIC, COMPUTING, FRENCH, HISTORY, ITALIAN, MARKETING, PHYSICS,

>40% APPLIED MATHS, CHEMISTRY, ENG. DRAWING & GRAPH. COMM., ENGLISH, GEOGRAPHY, MALTESE, PHILOSOPHY, PHYSICAL EDUCATION,

>30% ACCOUNTING, ART, CLASSICAL STUDIES, ECONOMICS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, PSYCHOLOGY, PURE MATHS, RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE,

<30% BIOLOGY,

Conduct of Examinations - Logistics• Personnel

– 785 examiners (chairs, paper setters, reviewers, markers, revisers) – 298 oral examiners– 393 readers, prompters, communicators, scribes, practical assistants– 762 supervisors and invigilators

• Examination Sittings– 542 examination sessions (17 March to 14 June) – 46,827 subject registrations / individual results– 103,603 examination papers printed– 23 examination venues (Malta & Gozo)– Candidates allocated to venues by region

Conduct of Examinations - Access• 669 candidates were given access arrangements (561 at SEC Level and 108 at Matriculation

Level).

• Special requirements: Word processors, quiet rooms, examinations held abroad , examinations at the CCF.

• Examinations held abroad: 15 sessions held in Brussels, Luxembourg, Zurich, Kranj, Catania, London and Copenhagen.

• Emergency cases: 33 cases (injury, severe anxiety, hospital cases)

• Special consideration cases: 13 candidates experienced grave circumstances during the examination period which justified special consideration.

• Waiving of fees: 310 cases of waiving of fees.

Conduct of Examinations

• Overall smooth running of the session except for a sudden change in venue for AM Chemistry practical a day before the schedule.

• Greater vigilance on mobile phones and smart watches.

• 40 cases of irregularities during the examinations were reported by the invigilators and by markers.

• The Disciplinary Committee considered the cases and decided on the penalties which ranged from a warning to the cancellation of the examination.

Conduct of ExaminationsThe Candidates’ Opinions

• For the fourth year running, the MATSEC Support Unit has conducted a post-session survey of the candidates’ opinions on the examinations by means of an e-mail to every candidate.

• Analysis based on the 1562 replies received by noon 13th July 2018. – Compared to previous years approximately 88% of the candidates stated

that they were satisfied with the venues and invigilators

– Candidates found that the new font in examination scripts was clear and comfortable to read

Revision of Papers and the September Session

• The Process of Revision of Papers– appointment of an independent reviser – reviews of the fairness of the marking of the scripts– decides on a possible change of grade– writes a report after consultation with the chairperson– report communicated to the candidate in the shortest time possible.

• September Session– Candidates can improve their results six weeks after the publication of results. – Dates: 28 August – 7 September 2018; timetable is available online – Registration dates: 19 – 26 July 2018 online

Acknowledgements & Thanks• Schools – Principals, Heads of School and Teachers

• Examiners – Examiners involved in oral, practical and written examinations

• ACCESS – Disability Support Committee members

• Examinations Department – Director and staff, supervisors and invigilators

• MATSEC Support Unit – All the staff for their commitment and hard work

Thank you